“Try to sit still, dear,” Daisy begged Toadkit as she padded out of the den. “I’ll be back to check on you as soon as I know Rosekit’s okay.”

“Don’t hurry!” Jaypaw muttered under his breath. He crouched to chew another mouthful of dock, then hurried back to Toadkit and began to lick the pulp onto his ears. Toadkit tried to duck away, but Jaypaw pressed his shoulders to the ground with his forepaws.

“Hold still,” he mumbled between licks. Toadkit yowled, but Jaypaw continued until they were coated with bitter juice. “I know it hurts,” he mewed, releasing the kit. “But you’re not in any danger. Stay there while I fetch some more for your nose.”

As Jaypaw turned away, he sensed anger flash in Toadkit’s mind. Fur brushed the medicine cat den floor. Toadkit was lunging for his tail!

Jaypaw spun around quickly. “Don’t you dare!”

Toadkit yelped in alarm as Jaypaw faced him, so close their whiskers were touching.

“H-how did you know what I was doing?” Toadkit squeaked.

Jaypaw narrowed his eyes. “I’m not as blind as you think.”

Toadkit backed away. “I’m sorry.”

“Now are you going to sit still?” Jaypaw demanded.

“Yes,” Toadkit murmured.

Feeling a pang of guilt for frightening the kit, Jaypaw fetched another mouthful of pulp. This time he dropped it in front of Toadkit. “Spread this on your pads, then rub it into your nose and over your mouth,” he ordered.

Jerkily, Toadkit smeared the pulp onto his stings. Jaypaw sensed his pain ease. The dock juice was working. Relieved, he fetched more pulp and helped Toadkit to rub it over his pelt until, between them, they had coated every sting. I’ll give Daisy a poppy seed when she gets back. She can give it to Toadkit before bedtime so he’ll sleep through the itching.

Brambles rustled. Jaypaw scented the air. Leafpool had returned, and she was carrying catmint.

“Daisy told me you’ve been stung.” Leafpool dropped her bundle and padded over to Toadkit.

Jaypaw heard her sniffing as she checked him over. “Good job, Jaypaw,” she pronounced. “Just the right amount of dock.”

Jaypaw wondered whether to tell her what a difficult patient Toadkit had been.

“You should give him a small poppy seed,” Leafpool advised, “just to make sure the stings don’t keep him awake tonight. They’ll be sore and itchy for a while.”

Thanks for the advice! Jaypaw bit back his reply. He was going to have to get used to listening to lessons he didn’t need; unlike Hollypaw and Lionpaw, he would be treated as an apprentice for many moons yet. As a medicine cat, he would still be expected to learn from his mentor and follow her orders even after he was given his Clan name. He might as well get used to it.

“Thanks, Jaypaw.” Toadkit’s grateful mew took him by surprise. “Sorry I was such a mouse-brain.”